Radiator cap



E. L. 'NICHOLS RADIATOR GAP Filed March 29. 1923 3 Sheets-Shget 5 v Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

orrso STATES Parent ries.

EDG-AR L. NICHOLS, OF GREELEY, COLDRAD.

' mimos foar.

Application led March 29, 5.9533. A Serial Ko. 628,595.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that. I, EDGAR L. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greeley, in the county of Weld and State ot' Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Radiator Cap, ot' which the following isa speciiication. J

This invention comprehends vital improvements in filling caps for receptacles, radiators and the like and the primary ob `iect o't' the present invention is to provide novel means for associating;V the plug .or cover of the cup with the body thereof and novel means for permittingr the automatic raising and loweringv of the cover by the turning oi an adjusting ring.

Another prime object of the invention is to provide novel means for holding the radiator cover or plug of the filling@r cap in a raised or closed position againstv accidental movement, whereby the radiator or receptacle can be easily filled when so desired.

A further object of the invention is to proingthe cover plates or plugs ot' the filling caps of radiators and the like, which will be durable and elicient in use, one that will.

be simple and eas)v to manufacture and one which can be placed upon the market at a .reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more` specifically described,

I claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 isa side elevation of the nnproved filling cap associated with the -upper end of an automobile radiatorthe radiator being shown in section.

F igureQ is a diametric section through the improved filling cap showing the cover or lug in its lowered position.

ig'ure 3 is a similar View showing the plug or cover in its raised position.

Fioure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the' hne 4 4 of Figure 3. p l

Figure 5 is it front elevation of the improved illing cap with parts thereof broken 'away and in section to illustrate the novel means employed for holding the'-p1ug or vide a novel means for opening and closcover on its feet against accidental more* ment.

Figure 6' is a "plan View ot the improved lling cap showing parts thereof broken away and in section.

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the improved iilling-cap or plug showing the handv $50 grip ring in section to illustrate the tion" mation oi" the operating ring.

Figure 8 is a horizontal section through the improved device taken on the line. 8- of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a diametrie section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8 looking inthe direction of the arrow.

Figure l() is a detail plan view ot' the spring washer to eliminate pla-y in the vari- 'W ous parts of the cap. l

Figure 11 is a detail spring washer. n

Figure l2 shows Adetail views of th leaf springs employed for eliminating play be 75 tween the various parts of the device.

Referring to the .drawings in detail., wherein similar reference characters desig nate corresponding parte throughout the several views, the letter A generally indi- 1% Cates :1n-improved filling' cap and B a radi ator withwhich the same can be used. The radiator B is. of the ordinary or any pre-- ferred typo generally employed in the cool# ing systems'ofinternal combustion engines 85 and embodies an upstanding sleeve lo provided with internal threads 16 for receiving the cap, as' will be hereinafter more fully described. y rllhe improved filling ca A is particularly adapted for use with ra iators of cooling Siti section i through the 'systems of motor vehicles and has been shown in connection with a radiator B but it is to be understood that the cap can he used for other purposes. As shown the imv proved Kcap A embodies a. cylindrical neel.: or body 20, the lower end of which is provided with threads 2l for permitting of the convenient connection of the cap with the sleeve l5 of the radiator B. The extreme upper end of the body or neck 2O can be provided with an outwardly extending annular 'nlango 22,' which forms a limiting shoulder for the operating ring 23. The up) r surface of the operatinring 23 is ra ted as et 24 los which provi es a shoulder 26 for engaging the lower surft-ice of the fiange 22. By .referrng to Figures 2 and. 3 of the drawing it can be seen that the upper edge of the operating ring extends at an appreciable distano/e above the noch 2O and thus forms a seat tor the plug or cover 26 of the improvied cap. it is preferred to have a gasket 27 formed of some compressible Inaterial such as rubber, telt or the like fitted upon the upper surface of the neck so as to permit e. relatively tight joint to beI had between the cover or plug 26 and the said neck. it is preferredl to make the cover 26 of rela-v tively heavy material and the cover or plug 26 can also be provided ii' so desired with au annular liange 28 for engaging, the extreme upper edge ot the operating ring 23 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The rear edge o'lf the plug or cover 2G can be out away as at 29 and provided with a hinge barrel 30 and this hinge barrel 30 can be fitted in a suitable cavity 3i formed in the outer surface of the neck 20'at the rear edge thereof. As shown a suitable pivot pin 32 extends through the hinge barrel and through the neck 20 adjacent to the upper end thereof. It is to be understood of course that the upper surface of the neck can be provided with bearing lugs for receiving t-he said pivot pin 32. The operating ring 23 is held in position f-igainst accidental movement on the neck 20 and for rotary movement thereon by means oi.1 a'. supporting ring 34 and this supporting ring 34 is secured to the neck 20 by suitable retaining screws or the like washer 36 formed of resilient material is disposoduapon the upper suface of the retainring 34 and this washer has struck out .from suitable resilient tongues 37 for enga 1g 'the said operating ring 23 and torn s means for normally urgingr the ring upward so as to eliminate the loose play therein, and thus obviate rattling and the li e. l also contemplate the use of double ended lait springs 38 which can be riveted or o'herwise secured to the under surface ot' the flange 22 or to the shoulder 25 formed bythe rabbeted portion 24 and these springs serve the saine 'function as the resilient washor 2&6. it is obvious that Whenvit is desired to take apart the cap that it is merely necessary to remove the screw 35, slip off the retainingY or supportingring 84 and then pull od' the operating ring 23.

'lo permit the convenient. operation of the operating ring 23 l' provide a manipulating ring 40 which is in' the nature of a hand grip and l contemplate the kuur-ling the outer surface of this manipulating ring so to permit the firm grasping thereof by the hand of the operator. The manipulating ring i0 can he secured to the operating ring; n any preferred manner, such as by a key el? hioh can be placed in companionA An annular.`

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keyways formed ir. the inner or meeting sur faces of the manipulating and operating rings. I prefer to make the manipula ing ring 40 of a sufficient Width or height to fully cover the supporting ring 34, so as to hide the saine from vievv of the ordinary ob server.- The operating ring 23 at the rear portion thereof is provided 'with a pair ot spaced'inclined slots 46 and 4T. The slot; 46 is disposed below the upper edge oi the operating rings while the slot. 47 extends through the upper edge. The slotl 46 has also its upper end terminating in a straight portion or slot 48 which lies in parallel rela tiloon to the upper edge of the said operating ring.

The hinge barrel 30 is provided with opening and closing` pins 4U and 50, which extend at diierent angles therefrom and when the cover or plug 26 is in its lowered position the pin 49 normally lies Withinthe slot 48 and this portion oi' the slot holds the cover in its closed position against accidental movement. Now when the operating ring 23 is turned in a counter clock-Wise direction the pin 49 will ride into the slot 46 from the slot 48 and owing to the inclination ot the said slot the pin will be forced downward, Whichvwill tend to raise the cover or plug 26. It is obvious that as the cover swings to its raised position that the pin 49 will gradually'swing out or away from the,

slot 46 and as the pin gradually moves from out of the slot, the pin 50 will he moved into the slot 47 and the inclination of this slot Will continue raising the cover or plug to its extreme raised position. This slot 47 and pin 50 cooperate with other means for ein gaging the pin 49 for causing the raising of the cover to its highest position and this additional means consists oi' an inclined surface 52 formed on shoulders formed b v the raboeted portion 24 and an inwardly extending lug 53 having an inclined base This lug 53 is attached in place on the inner surface of the operating ring by a suitable screw ortho like. the pin 49 will be engaged continuousl)7 during the raising movement of the cover. In

order to insure of the continual engaging ot' the pin 49 With the curved faceMot' the lugv 53 and the curved surface 52, an arcuate guide dog 55`is provided. This guide dog 55 is secured by means ot' a suitable pivot pin 56 to the operating ring 23. A suitable spring can be provided for normally urging this dog into engagement with the pin. As clearly shown in Figure 8 of the drawings the outer surface of the sleeve 20 can be provided with a cam-shaped slot or 1groove 57 for the reception of the lug 53 and the dog 55.

In order to hold the cover in its closed position against accidental'movement and tightly on its seat- When thesame is in its Thus it can be seen that outer edge of the plug or covei 26.

lowered position, one or more radially extending iocking pins (SO can be carried by tllxig shown only one piu is provided aiidthis pin is adapted to ride into a bayonet slot (il formed in the operating ring when the cover is moved to its loweredposition by the said ring. It is obvious that when the. pin 60 rides into then straight portion of` the bayonet slot, that accidental movement of y the cover or plug 26 will be eliminated.

, cover and rin i lowering of t e cover during inanipu ation From the foregoing descriptionl it can be seen'that an im roved and simple device has been provided or raising andlowering the covers or plugsof filling caps and for normally liolc ing the covers or'plugs in a lowered and raised position. y

lVhile the cap operates efiiciently in its present form it is to be understood that refinemente can be made thereto, such as the provision of rollers on the manipulating pins' 49 and 5() and the provision of stop or limiting lugs on the cover or plug 26 and the manipulating ring 4:0.

Changesl in details may be made without` departingrom the spirit or the' scope of this-invention.

What I claim as new is:-'

1. A filling cap comprising afsleeve a pivoted cover secured to the sleeve, .a manipulating ring 'rotatably associated with the sleeve and cooperating means between the `for causing the Vraisin and of. said rinv. l

2. AA filling cap comprising a sleeve, a pivoted cover secured to the sleeve, an operating ring rotatably associated with the sleeve, means for raising and lowering the cover by the turning movement-of said ring, and means for lockingr the cover in a raised vor lowered position against accidental movement.

3. A'lling cap comprising a cylindrical body, means for .connecting the body to the vessel to be filled, a cover pivotally secured tothe body, a rotatable manipulating ring mounted upon the body, said ring havin ,inclined guide ways formed therein, an

pins carried by the cover for fitting in said guide wa s whereby upon turning movement of tile ring the cover will be raised or lowered. l

It. In a radiator cap, a cylindrical body, a cover ivotally secured to the body, a ring rotatagly mounted upon the body, the ring 1 having aninclined guide way formed therein, a pin ,carried by the cover and arranged on one side ofthe pivot oint thereof fitted in said ide way, where y upon movement of the ring the cover will be raised or lowered, andmeanrfor preventing movement of y the ring longitudinally of said body.

5. A radiator cap comprising a eylindri- Cal body, an annular outwardly extending ysaid Hangs formed on lthe upper end of the body, a rotatable'operatng ring" fitted upon the body arranged to engage said flange, a retaining ring detachably secured to thc body 'and arranged ,to engage the lower cud et said first mentioned ring, and means operatively'connecting the ring' to the cover to permitthe raising and lowerin of said cover rotarymovcinent of sai ring..

radiator` cap comprising a cylindrical `body, an a `iular flange formed on the upper edge of t e body extending-outwardly therefrom, a lpivoted cover secured to the body, a rotatable operating ring mounted uponl the body and arranged to abut said flange, a retaining ring fitted upon the body for engagement with the lowersurface of said operating ringzbmeans securing-the reu body, a manipulating ring rotatably assw ciated with the body having an inclined guide way formed therein terminating at its upper end in a straight guide way, a pin carried by the -cover at one side of the pivot point thereof for fitting in said guide Ways,

vas and for the purpose specified.

8. A` filling ca comprising a cylindrical body,an outward y extending flange formed on the upper edge of the body, a rotatable operating ring rabbeted portion to receive the flange., means for holding the rin against said flange, a cover, a hinge barre? formed on the cover, a pivot pin extending through the barrel and said-body, a pin extending outwardlyiirom said hinge barrel beyond said pivot pin, the

having a guide slot tlieiein to receive rino' pin, and an inclined face'below said slot,'a guide pin carried by the inner surface of the ring arranged below the inclined face, and a pivoted guide dog carried by the ring for engaging said pin during'the moine ment thereof.

9. A filling cap oomprisin a cylindricalbody, a pivoted cover for the ody, a rotatable ring mounted upon the body operatively connected to the cover for raising and loweringl the same during rotary movement therein, a retaining pin formed on the cover, lthe rotatable ring having a bayonet slot therein arranged to receive the pin when the cover is in its lowered position for preventing accidental opening movement of said cover.

ange formed on the upper end of the body and extendingtoutwar ly therefrom, a rofitted on the body having a.

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l 10. A radiator cap comprising a body, a

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nze ojileafatng ring mexme upon he body having e mbbeted pm'ton arranged@ receive the m'xge a-pivocef ecwes, means op- 'elmvey connecting' the ring Wh hecover 'n cause the @over to mise and Lower during l'ofzm'y movement of du ring. u supporting ring secured to' the body and arranged to 0ngagethe'lower surfe@ of the 'rotatablering, enel a.' xfeeent Washoe' dispoeed between the memes retaining ring and the rotatable ring', and leaf springs disposed between the flange and said rotatable ring.

In testimony whereof I affix my 'signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR L. NICHOLS. Vitnesses KENNETH L. GOODMAN, GEORGE B. LEWIS. 

